Prevalence of hepatitis C genotypes in Indian patients and their clinical significance.

AIM: To study the significance of hepatitis C genotypes in relation to severity of liver disease, progression of liver disease and response to treatment. METHODS: Sixty one consecutive patients with hepatitis C infection were evaluated with detailed history, clinical examination, biochemical, imaging and virological profile, liver histology whenever feasible. Hepatitis C infection was confirmed with AntiHCV third generation ELISA assay. HCVRNA by PCR and HCV genotyping by direct sequencing. RESULTS: Demographic profile of patients was as M:F 36:25, mean age 46.3 +/- 13.6 years (range 10 to 70 years). Clinical presentations of these patients were as cirrhosis 23, cirrhosis with HCC 3, chronic hepatitis 22, acute hepatitis 4, asymptomatic with normal enzymes nine. Distribution of genotypes was as follows; 13/61 (21%) genotype I, 15/61 (25%) genotypes II and 33/61 (54%) genotype III. Cirrhosis was significantly common in genotype I (77%) when compared to genotype II and III (33%); p < 0.001. Mean time of presenting as cirrhosis was much faster in genotype I (8.7 +/- 6.7 years) as compared to other genotypes (type II 12.8 +/- 4.2 years and genotype III 15.8 +/- 6.9 years). Genotype distribution in CRF and renal transplant patient was genotype I 8/23 (35%), genotype II 5/23 (22%) and genotype III 10/23 (43%). Fourteen patients were treated with interferon and ribavarine combination for one year. Sustained response seen in 8/14 (57%). All these patients had genotype non 1. All the four patients with Genotype I were non-responders. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis C genotype III is common in India, Genotype I runs a more severe course, faster progression and non responders to interferon as compared with genotype II and III.